In-Box Review

introduction

Another high quality fantasy kit with some nudity from Romeo Models. The kit RM-800001 Kidada depicts a Zulu Queen on a water buffalo.

About the figure

The Zulu are the largest South African ethnic group of an estimated 10–11 million people who live mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Small numbers also live in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique. Their language, Zulu, is a Bantu language. The Zulu Kingdom played a major role in South African history during the 19th and 20th centuries. Under apartheid, Zulu people were classed as third-class citizens and suffered from state-sanctioned discrimination. They remain today the most numerous ethnic group in South Africa, and now have equal rights along with all other citizens.

The figure in this kit is an imaginary Zulu Queen – Kidada. Pride, strength, majesty and beauty under the African savannah’s blazing sun. Kidada proclaims herself the Zulu Queen over human and animal nature. Her power is magnetic, physical and mental, and allows her to control and tame even the dire black Cape buffalo. Kidada, only thanks to her sheer mental power, subdues and rides it. No creature can match her. In virtue of her majestic presence, she rules, conducts and protects the entire Zulu nation who worships her as a heavenly divinity. ( From the note provided inside the kit.)

Inside the box, there is an A4 paper sheet including short information about the figure. This document is represented in 2 languages; Italian and English.

Parts are well organized and sandwiched between two slabs of thick polyfoam to avoid the risk of damage and figure base is placed under the polyfoam.

parts

The figure is sculpted by Davide Di Donato and made up of 19 white metal and resin parts. All parts are cast clean and crisp in very good details. There is not much need for a serious clean up, filling or sanding. A fast clean of vertical seamlines and slightly brushing with a metal brush and washing will make it ready for priming.

FIGURE
The figure has 11 white metal parts.

Body : The naked body with open legs is posed to sit on the water buffalo. Rope belt on her waist, necklace and tail of her hair are sculpted ın this part. Anatomical details of a woman are wel l defined.

Head : It makes a very good fit to the body. She has a wide necklace and a wide headband from leopar pelt to carry the feathers. Facial details, hair with braided tail and big ear rings are well represented.

Right leg : It makes a good fit to the hole on the water buffalo’s body. Details of the foot and legging are well defined.

Left leg : It shows nice details. She has cow tail leggings on both knees which are called as Amashoba to give a bulk apperance to the body.

Left arm : She carries a metal armband and a wide metal wristband. Fingers are well defined.

Right arm : She carries her weapons and shield on her right hand. A fur wristband decorates the arm. She carries a Isihlangu style long shield used by King Shaka Zulu. Zulu shields are made from cowhide. She carries 2 typical Zulu weapons ; spear known as Assegai and ball club known as Knob-Kerrie. The spear was the most commonly used Zulu weapon. Zulu youths grew up using spears for both fighting and hunting. Many Zulus went into battle wielding a heavy wooden club called a knobkerrie. At the end of the straight shaft was a round, fist-sized head. The head was sometimes studded and the shaft was often decorated with traditional designs. Cross-cut designs on the shaft improved a warriors grip on the weapon.

Spear head : It will be glued to the right hand inside the shield.

Feathers : Feathers decorating the headband arewell defined.

Top of knob-kerrie : It will assembled to the top of shield.

WATER BUFFALO
The figure rides a water buffalo. The animal is sculpted in excellent details and made up of metal and resin parts. The body comes in 2 pieces as Right half and Left half of the body. The body details and leopard pelt on the animal are well defined. The holes and grooves on the buffalo make the figure assembly easier.

Head of buffalo : It shows very nice details.

Right horn and ear of buffalo : Cast as a metal part.

Left horn and ear of buffalo

Genital area of the buffalo : Cast as a metal part.

Tail of buffalo

Buffalo skull : A nice piece to display on the figure base

Figure base : Well detailed base as a very nice display for this figure.

conclusion

A different subject in extreme sculpting and high quality cast.

Very Highly Recommended

SUMMARY

Highs: Very nice posing figure on a water buffalo, great sculpt and cast, detailed base.Lows: No lows on this product but remember it is fictionalVerdict: Nice figure to paint for all modelers.

Born in 1962,married and having 2 sons. I started modelling about 8 years old building USS Fletcher with mom. It was a model dad brought from USA., I think in those days only a few people in Turkey had info on scale model kits. Grown as an AF officer son , I built many aircraft models in years. Som...